Liquid-fuel-vaporizing device



W. H. HILL.

LIQUID FUEL VAPORIZING DEVICE.

APPLICATION FILED MAY a. 1918.

1,43 6,@99., Patented Nov. 211, 1922..

M TORN-EY I Patented Nov. 21, 1922.

'UNHTED STATES;

. atinee PATENT @FFHCCE.

mll'ilLIATvI El. HILL, @JF IKEEANATJI, IPQRTO RECQ.

LIQUID-FUEL-VAPURKZING DEVICE.

l Application filed. ma a, rare. own are. aaaaaa.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that T, WILLIAM H. HILL a citizen of the United States, residing at anati, Porto Rico, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Liquid-Fuel- Vaporizing Devices, of which the following is a clear, full, and exact description.

This invention relates to apparatus for the treatment of liquid fuels to prepare them for use in combustion devices and particularly to apparatus for effecting the rapid, progressive and complete volatilization or vaporization of the more heavy or less volatile liquid fuel, such as kerosene, so as to render them available for convenient, efficient and economical use incombustion devices and especiallyin internal combustion motors. The invention is herein shown as embodied in an auxiliary device adapted to be used in connection with the usual carburetor of an internal combustion motor, but it will be understood that the invention is not restricted to the illustrated embodiment and uses, and that many features of the invention are of general utility in the art to which the invention relates.

A general object of the invention is to provide improved means for insuring or for effecting the rapid and complete volatiliza- I tion or vaporization of a liquid fuel and particularly of the less volatile liquid fuels such as kerosene. The invention aims particularl to provide means for efieoting such rapid and complete vaporization without cracking or other modification of the combustible character of any of the constituents of the fuel, and without at any time subjecting the fuel, while in its liquid state, to a temperature higher than that required to evaporate it, the invention aiming to separate a complex fuel into its component parts by fractional distillation and by evaporating each part substantially at its boiling point.

Devices for vaporizing the heavier liquid fuels as heretofore designed have usually been defective in that the operation of such devices would vary with variations in the atmospheric temperature. Moreover, the uniformity of operation of such devices has been seriously afiected by the conduction of heat from one part of the device to another.

This has been particularly true of vaporizing devices in which the vaporizing has been effected by the application of heat directly to the fuel to be vaporized. In such devices, when operated for any length of time, unless manually adjusted or controlled, there has been a tendency to crack the more volatile constituents of the fuel, thus affecting to a very marked extent the combustibility of such constituents.

' An important object of the present invention, therefore, is to provide means for utilizing heat in the vaporization of a liquid fuel which will so graduate the amount and intensity of the heat applied to the fuel in the difierent stages of its vaporization or volatilization that theintensity of the heat will not be sufficient, while the fuel stilleontains its more volatile constituents in liquid form, to affect injuriously the more volatile constituents, while preferably being suiiicient, both in intensity and quantity, to efi'ect the rapid vaporization or volatilization of such constituents. In a preferred embodiment of the invention the tendency of the heat to travel by oonduction from one part of the apparatus to another has been utilized to effect the graduated or difierential heating of the surface or surfaces through which the vaporizing heat is to be imparted to the fuel, thereb utilizing, to obtain the proper heating e ect', that tendency in prior devices which has interfered with their proper operation.

An important feature of the present invention is the novel means for securing a differential heating of a vaporizing chamber in which the fuel to be vaporized is brought into contact with heated surfaces. Another important feature of the invention is the novel means for bringing each of the different constituents of the fuel into contact with a part of the heated surface which will im- Fig. 1;

ig. 3 is a section on the line 3-3 of Fig. 1; and

Fig. 4 1s a perspective detail showing the construction of the part of the device which llO . .buretter is directe directs the incoming gases to the outer wall of the device.

The illustrated device comprises a cylindrical casing 2 having therein a volatilizing or vaporizing chamber into which the atomized and partly va orized fuel from the carby .a pipe gor jtionduit 4, the pipe or conduit 4 being arranged at a tan cut to the cylindrical wall of the casing 2. aid pipe or. conduit 4 constitutes directing means whereby the incoming fuel is caused to travel along the inner surface of the wall of the cylinder, thus roducing a centrifugal action in a horizonta plane upon the constituents of the fuel, whereby'the heavier constituents tend to lighter ones toward the center of the vapor izing chamber. Those constituents wh1ch are already vaporized or volatilized arepermitted to ass at once out'of the vaporizrn chamber through an outlet conduit 6 whic may be connected to the manifold of an internal combustion motor, this conduit 6 being shown as formed integral with a cover 8 t casing 2, said caslng 2 having at its lower end an integral bottom 10 provlded wlth a hollow threaded boss 12 for a purpose hereinafter to be set forth.

When the device herein shown is connected to an internal combustion motor, the flow of atomized fuel into the vaporizing chamber through the intake conduit 4 W111 naturally be proportional to the demand made upon the device by the motor, this demand being indicated by the suction produced by the intake strokes of the motor pistons, and therefore the degree of centrifugal action will be to some extent proportional to the speed at which the atomized fuel is drawn into the vaporizing chamber through the intake 4.- In order to make this centrifugal action as nearly uniform as possible for all demands made upon the device and at the same time to further insure the direction of the fuel against the walls of the vaporizing chamber, a directing door or valve 14 is provided between the intake 4 and the vaporizing chamber, this door or valve being carried upon a vertical pivot 16 having its bearings in a casting 18 supported in the upper end of the chamber of the cylinder 2, the door or valve 14 being curved substantially to the curve of the inner wall of the cylindrical casing 2, and being normally held in position to close the inta e 4 by means of a spring 20 connected at one end to an arm 22 upon'the depending lower end of the pivot 16 and at its other end to-a stud 24 upon the underside of the casting 18.

The casting 18 comprises upper and lower plates 26 and 28 connected by an integral segment-shaped side plate 30, the plate 26 being shaped to fit the shouldered inner wall of the cylinder 2, and the plate 28 extending plate 26 displace the opening through which 1 ,aaaoee only part wav across the cylinder and therey providing an open "space between the edge 'of said plate and easing 2, through which the fuel may pass lnto the main vaporizing chamber. The is'also provided with a central opening 32 fitting about the outlet pipe 6, and the plate 28 has a curved face 34'also bearing against said outlet pipe.

s hereinabove suggested, an important feature of the invention is the means for producing a differential heating of the surfaces of the vaporizing chamber, into contact with which the fuel to be vaporized is brought. In liouid heretofore devised, difliculty has been exerienced because of the substantially uniorm heating of the contact surfaces. In such devices the unvolatilized portions of the fuel are all brought into contact with surfaces heated to substantially the same degree of temperature, with the result that the more easily volatilized portions of the fuel are overheated and frequently cracked, ted to the upper end of the cylindrical.

resulting in the formation of compounds not so readily'combustible, with the resultant accumulation of carbon in the motor and the tell-tale black smoke from the exhaust, indicating imperfect combustion. This crack- 1ng of the fuel also causes the formation of more readily combustible compounds, that is, unsaturated hydrocarbons, which'produce the characteristic knock or knocking of internal combustion moto'rs indicating preignition, this knocking being analogous to that produced by advancing the spark.

In the device herein shown, means is provided for heating the vaporizing chamber from the' engine exhaust, the illustratedmeans comprising a jacket 36 about the lower end of the cylindrical casing 2, this jacket being open at its upper end and fittin against a flan e 38 upon the casing 2 an being provide in its bottom withan the hollow boss 12 upon t lower end of the casing 2 extends, this boss being threaded upon its outside to receive a nut 40 by which the jacket 36 may be clamped upon the casing 2. The jacket 36 has intake and outlet connections 42 and 44, through which the exhaust from the engine may pass into and out of the chamber in the jacket 36 surrounding the casing 2.

In order to secure a differential heating of the chamber in the casing 2, means is provided for intensifying the heating of the lower part of the chamber and for radiating away some of the heat which would normally be conducted to the upper part of the chamber. The illustrated means comprises radiating flanges 46 about the lower end of the casing 2 and within the jacket 36, these flanges serving to collect more of the heat of the exhaust and to conduct it through the wall of the casing 2 into the the inner wall of the I neeeoee lower end of the chamber within said casing, and other flanges 48 on said casing about the upper part of said chamber, the flanges t8 being exposed to the air and thus serving to radiate-away some of the heat ation of the device will be apparent. The

atomized and usually partly vaporized fuel drawn into the device through the intake 4 as a result of the partial vacuum produced by the action of the motor pistons, will pass through the passage between the partly opened valve or door 14 and the inner wall of the casing 2, the amount of opening of this valve or door 14 being proiortioned to the amount of vacuum prouced and the speed of travel of the fuel. As it travels along the curved inner wall of the casing 2, the volatilized portions of the fuel will be displaced toward the center of the chamber and may pass out through the outlet 6 as soon as they come below the lower end of this outlet. The unvolatilized portions of the fuel will continue to travel along the inner surface of the wall of the casing 2 and will gravitate down this wall, thus moving gradually into zones of increasing temperature. As the more easily volatilized portions of the fuel reach portions of the surface. which will impart to them their appropriate heats of volatilization, they will be volatilized or vaporized and may at once pass out through the outlet 6. The heavier portions will then continue to move down the inner wall of the casing 2 until they also reach parts of said wall which will impart to them their appropriate temperatures of volatilization, when they also will be vaporized and separated from the still less volatile parts. This fractional and progressive distillation or volatilization of the constituents of the fuel will continue until the least volatile portions having reached the hotter parts of the wall are finally vaporized.

In order further to insure the travel of the less volatile portion of the gases down the inner wall of the casing 2, a ledge 50 may be provided about the outlet pipe 6, this ledge having a flange 52 forming a trough orspill pan about the pipe 6, and the flange 52 being so spaced from the inner wall of the casing 2, as shown at 54:, as to provide a narrow passage through which the fuel must pass down into the main part of the gasifyin chamber. Any fuel brought in in a pure y liquid the lower part of mg condition, which does not pass down through the space 54: but which accumulates in the trough or spillway rovided by the ledge 50 and flange 52, will be gradually fed into the space 54, running through the openings 57 of the flange 52 and then along the legs 55 to the inner wall of the chamber and then down said wall, and thus subjected to the volatilizing action of the heated walls of the chamber in the casing 2.

Tn order to. insure bringing the unvolatilized portions of the fuel, which travel to the lower part of the chamber in the casing 2, into close proximity to the inner wall of said casing, a closed cylinder 56 may be located in this .part of the chamber and spaced from the walls thereof by any suitable means, such, for example, as the studs 58. This usually only happens when the engine is idling or under low speed conditions.

The hollow boss inside at 41 to. receive a plug (not shown) by which it is normally closed, the plug being removable to drain any sediment which may accumulate in the vaporizing chamber.

This application, as to common subject-- is a continuation of my co-pending matter,

Serial No. 211,333, tiled Januapplication, ar 11,1918.

at l[ claim' as new is I 1. A'liquid fuel vaporizing device comprising, in combination, a vaporizing chamber having a differentiallyheated wall surface onto which the liquid fuel is directed and over which it passes in the direction of increasing heat, and means for heating said surface arranged to' cause the hotter art of said surface to be heated by con uction through the wall and for causing the less heated parts of said surfaceto be heated only by conduction along the wall.

2. A liquid fuel vaporizing device com- 'prising, in combination, a vaporizing chamber having a differentiall heated wall surface onto which the liquid fuel is directed and over which it passes in the direction of increasing heat, and means for heating said surface arranged to cause a part of said surface to be heated by conduction through the wall and for causing another part of said surface to be heated only by conduction along the wall, and heat collecting means carried by the first mentioned part of said wall for emphasizing the diflerential heat- 3. A liquid fuel vaporizing device comprising, in combination, a vaporizing chamber having a difl'erentially heated Wall surface onto which the liquid fuel is directed and over which it passes inthe direction of increasing heat, and means for heating said surface arranged to cause a part of said surface to be heated by conduction through heated only by the wall and for causing another part of said surface to be heated only by conduction along the wall, and heat radiating means carried by the last mentioned part of said wall for emphasizing the differential heat- ]I) i. A liquid fuel vaporizing device comprising, in combination, a vaporizing chamher having a differentially heated wall surface onto which the liquid fuel is directed and over which it asses in the direction of increasing heat, and means for heating said surface arranged to cause a part of said surface tobe heated by conduction through the Wall and for causing another part of said surface to be heated only by conduction along the wall, and heat collecting means carrie by the first-mentioned part of said wall and heat radiating means carried by the lastmentioned part of said wall for emphasizing the differential heating.

5. A liquid fuel vaporizing means comprising a vaporizing chamber having therein a surface heated by means external to said chamber, part of said surface being heated by conduction through the wall upon which said surface is, formed and a part being conduction along the wall and in such manner that the heat of said surface gradually increases through the range of heats of volatilization of the constituents of the fuel to be vaporized, and means for directing the fuel to be vaporized into said chamber and upon and over said surface in such manner that it travels in the direction of increasing heat.

6. A liquid fuel vaporizing means comprising a chamber having a vertical wall, means external to said chamber for heating said wall, means for facilitating collection of heat by said wall along one part of said wall, and means for facilitating radiation of heat away from said wall along an adjacent part of said wall, whereby a differentially heated inner surface is presented in said chamber, and means directing the fuel to be vaporized upon and over said heating surface from the region of least heat to the region of greatestheat. I

7. Liquid fuel vaporizing means comprising a chamber having the inner surface of its outer wall arranged to constitute volatilizing means over which the liquid fuel gravitates, and means external to said chamber and opposed to the lower part of said surface for impartin heat to said surface by conduction throug the wall, the part of said wall above said to said means and arranged to be heated only by conduction along said wall.

8. Liquid fuel vaporizing means comprising a chamber having the inner surface of its outer wall arranged to constitute volatilizing means over which the. liquid fuel gravitates, means external to said chamber Leas es f over which the fuel first means being unexposed and o posed to the lower part of said surface or im arting heat to said surface by conduction t rough the wall, the part of said wall above said means being unexposed to sald means and arranged to be heated only by conduction along said arranged means said chamber the 9, Liquid fuel for conducting away from vaporized fuel. I vaporizing means comprismg, in comb1nation,.a chamber presenting a fuel heating surface over which the li uid fuel to be vaporized is caused to travel in a first travels for radiatmg away a portion of the heat, whereby said fuel travels over a differentially heated surface 111' the direction of increasing heat.

Liquid fuel vaporizing means comprising in combination, a chamber presenting a fuel heating surface over which the fuel to be vaporized is caused to travel in a film, means for so heating said surface that it will raise the various constituents of the fuel to their volatilizing temperatures, and, means adjacent to that part of the surface travels for so radiating away a portion of the heat that the tem erature of this part of said heating sur ace, while suflicient to volatilize the more volatile constituents of the fuel, is not suflicient to crack said constituents before volatilization.

11. In a device of the combination with means for separating the unvolatilized from the volatilized parts of a fuel mixture, of volatilizing means arranged to exert a volatilizing action on the separated unvolatilized parts of the fuel to an extent and in a succession determined by the volatility of said parts.

12. In a device of the class described, the combination with means for effecting a centrifugal movement about a vertical axis of a fuel mixture, -whereby the unvolatilized parts of said fuel are separated from the volatilized parts, of heating means in which the separated unvolatilized parts of the fuel gravitate through zones of gradually increasing heat.

In apparatus of the class described, adapted to be placed between the carburetter and the intake of an internal combustionmotor, the combination with centrifugal means for separating the unvolatilized from the volatilized parts of the fuel mixture, of means for progressively volatilizing the separated unvolatilized parts of the fuel mixture constructed to permit the immediate discharge of each part as it is volatilized.

4.1m apparatus of the class described, adapted to be placed between the carburetter and the intake of an internal combustion motor, the combination with a cylindrical chamber and a tangentially arranged inlet wallfand centrally class described, the

' said tangential inlet pipe and controlled by inee'pee of means supplementing the action of the rate of flow of the atomized fuel through said apparatus, for directing the incoming fuel against the wall of said chamber.

15. In a device of the class described, adapted to operate upon the fuel between I the carburetter and the intake of an internal portions of said fuel as combustion engine, the combination with a centrifugal chamber having a central outlet, of a yielding coming fuel arranged to direct said fuel toward the outer wall of said chamber.

16. In a device of the class described, adapted to be located between thecarburet- .ter' and the intake of an internal combustion motor, a cylindrical chamber having a vertical axis and-having a central outlet,means for directing the incoming atomized fuel against the wall of said chamber, and means for so differentially heating the wall of said chamber below said inlet as to effect the progressive vaporization of the unvaporize they travel down said wall. Y p

17. In apparatus of the class described, the combination with a-vertically arranged cylindrical chamber having an inlet near its upper end and an axially arranged outlet, of means for directing the unvolatilized portions of the fuel entering said chamber onto the cylindrical wall of said chamber, means for heating the lower end of said wall and radiating means for-radiating away a part of the heat conducted to the upper part of said wall. v

18. In a liquid fuelvaporizing apparatus, the combination with a vertically elongated chamber having a centrally arranged outlet at its upper end, of means for-so difthe wall of said chamber as to cause the zone of most intense heat to be .at the lower end of said chamber, and means for introducing porized into said chamber, means for directing said 'fuel the upper less heated part of said chamber.-

19. In a device of the class described, adapted to be located between the carbureter and the intake of aninternal combuscomprising first 1 against tion motor, the combination with a cylindrical chamber having a vertical axis and I having a central outlet and a tangentially arranged inlet pipe whereby centrifugal se aration of the volatilized from the unvdlatilized parts of the atomized fuel is of means for so difierentially heatwall of said chamber below said inefiect the 1progressive volatilizaize efiected, ing the let as to tion of the unvolat portions of sai fuel as they travel down said wall.

20. In an apparatus of the class described,

' inlet arranged liquid fuel to be va-v the' wall of inlet arranged exhaust over. the

a April,1918.

with a cylindrical chamber having a vertical axis and having a tangentially arranged inlet near its upper end and an axiallyarranged nal to said chamber for heating the lower end of said chamber, a part of the wall of said chamber above said heated lower end to said means, exposed to the surrounding air and heated only by conduction along said wall.

21; In anapp-aratus of the class described, the combination with a vertically arranged cylindrical chamber having a tangential inlet near its upper end and an axially arranged outletopening into said chamber below said inlet, of means for differentially heating the wall of-said chamber comprising means for directly imparting heat to the lower part of the wall of said chamber, the part of the wall of said chamber above said means exposed to ranged to be heated only by conduction along said wall.

22. In apparatus of the class described, adapted to be located between the carburetter and the intake of an internal combustion engine, the combination with a vertically arranged cylindrical chamber havin a tangential inlet and an axially arranged outlet, of a spring-controlled valve in sai to direct incoming fuel against the wall of said chamber to effect a centrifugal action upon the constituents of said fuel, means for directing the motor exhaust over the lower part of said chamber, and heat collecting means upon the outer wall of said chamber within said exhaust for intensifying the heat in the lower part of said chamber.

23. In apparatus of the class described, adapted to be locatedbetween the carburetter and the intake of an internal combustion engine, the combination with a vertically arranged cylindrical chamber having a tangential inlet and; an axially arranged the combination being unexposed ,outlet, of a spring controlled valve in sa d toi-direct incoming fuel against the wall of'said hamber to effect a upon the constituents of for directing the motor lower part of said chamber, heat collecting means upon the outer wall of said chamber within said exhaust for intensifying the heat in the lower part of said chamber, and heat radiating meafns above the exhaust heated portion of said chamber for radiating away a part of the conducted heat.

Signed at New centrifugal action sald fuel, means Yak city, this 30th day of outlet, of means exterllllb WILLIAM H. HILL. 

